AIDA

Opera in four acts. Performance in Italian with subtitles in Polish.

AIDA — a beautiful, monumental opera was commissioned in 1869 by Ismailia Pasha, the chediwa of Egypt for the ceremonial opening of the Suez Canal, but unfortunately it was not staged on this occasion. At first, Verdi was not interested in the subject of the libretto, but a fabulous fee of 150 thousand francs in gold and a free hand in the selection of performers of all roles quickly convinced him to cooperate. In these comfortable conditions, a timeless and unforgettable work was created. The premiere took place in a natural setting — in Cairo on December 24, 1871.

The libretto tells the story of Aida, the daughter of the Ethiopian king Amonaster, who, as a slave in the Egyptian court, falls in love with the Egyptian ruler Radames. Unfortunately for her, the daughter of the Egyptian king, Amneris, is also in love with him. When war breaks out between Ethiopia and Egypt, Radames is elected commander-in-chief of the army. A distraught Aida wishes good luck to her beloved, however, knowing that in this way she acts against her own father and country. When the victorious Radames returns from the fighting, the Egyptian king offers him the hand of his daughter Amneris, and Aida and her father Amonastro are to remain hostages...

Aida, directed by Marek Weiss-Grzesiński, is a story about love and patriotism. About the fact that sometimes you have to choose between these feelings and about the tragedies that can result from such dilemmas. The Łódź staging attracts attention with its original and impressive scenography.

GOLDEN MASK for MONIKA CICHOCKA for the best vocal and acting performance in the 2005/2006 season in the play AIDA.